Effect of heat treatment on tensile properties of friction stir welded joints of 2219-T6 aluminium alloy

Abstract

The effect of post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) on the tensile properties of friction stir welded (FSW) joints of 2219-T6 aluminium alloy was investigated. The PWHT was carried out at aging temperature of 165°C for 18 h. The mechanical properties of the joints were evaluated using tensile tests. The experimental results indicate that the PWHT significantly influences the tensile properties of the FSW joints. After the heat treatment, the tensile strength of the joints increases and the elongation at fracture of the joints decreases. The maximum tensile strength of the joints is equivalent to 89% of that of the base material. The fracture location characteristics of the heat treated joints are similar to those of the as welded joints. The defect free joints fracture in the heat affected zone on the retreating side and the joints with a void defect fracture in the weld zone on the advancing side. All of the experimental results can be explained by the hardness profiles and welding defects in the joints.     

Tensile creep behaviour of NiAl-Cr(Zr) multiphase intermetallic alloy

Abstract

The microstructure of a multiphase NiAl-33.5Cr-0.5Zr intermetallic alloy was examined by SEM with energy dispersive spectroscopy and TEM. The tensile creep behaviour of the hot isostatically pressed NiAl-33.5Cr-0.5Zr alloy was studied. The results of the creep test indicated that all of the creep curves under the present test have similar characteristics: a short primary creep stage, a dominant tertiary creep stage, and nearly identical creep strains (~45%). The apparent stress exponent and the apparent activation energy were analysed and discussed. The mechanism of the creep deformation was also analysed by the observation of TEM.     

Influence of post-weld heat treatment on tensile properties of modified 9Cr–1Mo ferritic steel base metal

Abstract

The paper presents the influence of post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) on tensile properties of modified 9Cr–1Mo ferritic steel base metal. Tensile tests at room and elevated temperatures (300–873 K) were performed on specimens in normalised and tempered condition as well as with additional PWHT (993 K for 1 h; 1013 K for 1 h and 1033 K for 1 h). The yield and ultimate tensile strengths decrease gradually up to intermediate temperatures followed by a rapid fall at high temperatures in all heat treatment conditions. At intermediate temperatures, the steel exhibited ductility minima, serrated flow, negative strain rate sensitivity on flow stress and peak in the average work hardening rate. The influence of additional PWHT is reflected in a systematic and gradual decrease in both the yield and tensile strength values with increasing PWHT temperature from 993 to 1033 K for 1 h. However, there has been no appreciable change in ductility values as well as the fracture mode in PWHT conditions compared with those observed in normalised and tempered condition. Comparison of strength values in PWHT conditions suggested that the strength values remained higher than the average values specified in the French Nuclear Design Code, RCC-MR.     

Axisymmetric compression test and hot working properties of alloys

Abstract

The paper investigates the use of the hot axisymmetric compression test for the determination of the hot working properties of alloys. Qualitative analysis shows that stress determinations from the test are subject to systematic errors. These arise from frictional effects and deformation heating. The errors are affected by the conditions of the test and the effects of these parameters have been investigated using a fully coupled finite element procedure. Specimen geometry, specimen volume, friction, temperature, strain rate, and strain have been investigated. Procedures outlining methods of error calculation for general testing conditions are given. Methods of using the data to correct stress–strain curves, to validate such curves and to optimise testing conditions are discussed.     

Influence of post-weld heat treatments on microstructure and mechanical properties of gas tungsten arc maraging steel weldments

Abstract

The response to post-weld heat treatment of an 18%Ni (250 grade) gas tungsten arc weld metal has been investigated. The post-weld heat treatments are (a) direct aging at 480°C/3 h/air cooling, (b) solutionising at 815°C/1 h/air cooling+aging at 480°C/3 h/air cooling and (c) homogenisation at 1150°C/1 h/air cooling+solutionising at 815°C/1 h/air cooling+aging at 480°C/3 h/air cooling. Metallographic characterisation of fusion zone revealed pronounced segregation of titanium and molybdenum along the interdendritic and intercellular boundaries. This led, during subsequent aging, to austenite reversion at temperatures much lower than in wrought (unwelded) material. Solutionised treatment at 815°C does not remove the segregation. Homogenisation treatment (1150°C/1 h/air cooling) succeeded in making the composition become homogenised. Mechanical properties including tensile, hardness and impact toughness were evaluated. Tensile test results showed that directly aged weldments exhibited lower strength but higher ductility than the other cases; this was attributed to the presence of reverted austenite. Homogenisation at 1150°C/1 h/air cooling+solutionising at 815°C/1 h/air cooling+aging at 480°C/3 h/air cooling resulted in optimum tensile properties. A substantial increase in fusion zone toughness was observed after homogenisation+solutionising+aged condition due to a decrease in the content of austenite content compared to the directly aged condition. The reduction in microsegregation by diffusion of alloying elements from cell boundaries to the cell during homogenisation treatment is responsible for the decrease in austenite content.     

Post-weld heat treatment cracking in autogenous GTA welded cast Inconel 738LC superalloy

Abstract

The post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) cracking in autogenous gas tungsten arc (GTA) welded Inconel 738LC superalloy, which was given two different preweld heat treatments, was studied. One of the preweld heat treatments, designated as SHT, consisted of solution heat treatment at 1120°C for 2 h in vacuum followed by argon quenching. The second preweld heat treatment, designated as UMT, consisted of solution treatment at 1120°C for 2 h followed by air cooling and then aging at 1025°C for 16 h followed by water quenching. The welded specimens were given the same conventional PWHT, which consisted of SHT at 1120°C for 2 h in vacuum followed by argon quenching and subsequent aging at 845°C for 24 h in vacuum. Microstructural examination of the welded SHT and UMT treated material showed that intergranular microfissuring occurred during welding only in the heat affected zone (HAZ) with some cracks extending into the adjoining base metal (BM), whereas after the PWHT microfissures were observed in the fusion zone (FZ), HAZ and the BM far removed from the HAZ. The crack width ranged from 5 to 10 μm in the PWHT specimens as compared with 1–2 μm in the as welded sections. Although similar type of cracks was observed in samples given the two preweld heat treatments, the UMT preweld heat treatment was found to result in a significant reduction in average total crack length and average crack length, both during welding and during the subsequent PWHT. After PWHT, SHT samples had ～43% more cracking than the UMT samples. It is suggested that a larger particle size of γ′ precipitates in the HAZ and a smaller size of HAZ in the as welded samples, combined with a softer BM of the UMT material (hardness 280 ± 12 HV10, as compared with 380 ± 10 HV10 of the SHT material) resulted in an improved capability of the material to absorb the strain–aging stresses, and hence a reduced incidence of cracking during PWHT.     

Effects of quench aging treatment on microstructure and tensile properties of thixoformed ZA27 alloy

Abstract

The effects of quench aging heat treatment on microstructure and tensile properties of thixoformed ZA27 alloy were investigated. The results indicated that the microstructure of the alloy became into polygonal β phase particles after solid solution treatment at 350°C for 48 h. The β particles then decomposed into α and η phases which would coarsen during the subsequent aging at 150°C. It was observed that the Zn concentration in the β phase near the polygonal boundaries was higher than that within the β particles. As a consequence, both the decomposition speed of the former β phase and the subsequent coarsening speed were faster than those of the latter β phase. Thus, α and η phases near the boundaries were always coarser than those within the particles during aging. Owing to the coarsening, the ultimate tensile strength continuously decreased with increasing aging time. The percentage elongation increased up to 10 h, but decreased with aging time owing to bad deformation accommodation and low bonding strength between particles. Cracks initiated from some defects (e.g. inclusions and porosities) during tensile test, and the path for the cracks to propagation changed with the aging time.     

Effects of homogenisation treatment on microstructure and hot ductility of aluminium alloy 6063

Abstract

Several homogenisation treatments were applied to direct chill (DC) cast ingots of aluminium alloy 6063, in order to analyse the resulting microstructures developed from these diverse conditions and their effects on the hot ductility of this alloy. Imaging was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a focused ion beam (FIB) instrument. These techniques identified variations in distribution and morphology of second phase particles (AlFeSi and Mg₂Si). FIB results for the various AlFeSi particles correctly identify their shapes in three dimensions (3D). The particles were identified by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) in the SEM, and by X-ray diffraction (XRD) for bulk samples. Hot tensile testing (HTT) was conducted between 470 and 600°C to asses the hot ductility for each condition. The inferior ductility of as cast samples was due to the poor bond strength of the β AlFeSi phase at the grain boundaries. Homogenised samples, which contain α AlFeSi, exhibited improved ductility. Samples that were water quenched following homogenisation were absent of Mg₂Si precipitates, when these elements remained in solid solution. These exhibited the highest ductility.     

Effect of welding parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded 2219Al-T6 joints

The effect of friction stir welding (FSW) parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 5.6 mm thick 2219Al-T6 joints was investigated in detail. While the sound FSW joints could be obtained under lower rotation rates of 400–800 rpm and welding speeds of 100–800 mm/min; higher rotation rates of 1200–1600 rpm easily led to the tunnel and void defects. The FSW thermal cycle resulted in low hardness zones (LHZs) on both retreating side (RS) and advancing side (AS). The LHZs may be located at the interface between the nugget zone (NZ) and the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ), at the TMAZ, or at the heat affected zone under the varied welding parameters. The tensile strength of FSW 2219Al-T6 joints increased when increasing the welding speed from 100 to 800 mm/min, and was weakly dependent on the rotation rates from 400 to 1200 rpm. The FSW 2219Al-T6 joints fractured along the LHZ on the RS.     

Effects of Ca combined with Sr additions on microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ91D magnesium alloy

Abstract

Weight reduction to improve automobile fuel economy has triggered renewed interest in magnesium. The effects of Ca/Sr separate and composite additions to AZ91D magnesium alloy on its microstructure and mechanical properties have been investigated. The results indicate Ca can refine both the grain and eutectic phase of AZ91D magnesium alloy. Sr hampers microstructure refinement when composite Ca/Sr additions are made. In addition, separate Ca additions to AZ91D magnesium alloy increase yield strength but decrease elongation of this alloy. By adjusting the Ca/Sr composite proportions, additions to AZ91D magnesium alloy are able to improve both microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy.     

Mechanical and corrosion properties of P/M-HIP super duplex stainless steel after different industrial heat treatments as used for large components

Abstract

Mechanical tensile and impact toughness tests and critical pitting corrosion temperature (CPT) tests were performed on samples of Duplok 27, a P/M-HIP duplex stainless steel containing copper, after heat treatments simulating industrial heat treatments of large components. It was shown that copper alloying has positive effects on mechanical tensile properties leading to hardening and more uniform deformation. No negative effects of copper alloying on corrosion resistance properties were found. A drastic drop in impact toughness values and CPT of samples cooled at controlled cooling rates is explained by the precipitation of intermetallic secondary phases or their precursors. Lower CPT of a NG-GTAW (narrow gap gas tungsten arc welding) welded joint is explained by the lower level of alloying than that of the base material. The high temperature region of precipitation of intermetallic secondary phases is shifted towards higher temperatures than assumed for Duplok 27 P/M-HIP duplex stainless steel.     

Effects of initial oxide on microstructural and mechanical properties of friction stir welded AA2219 alloy

Effects of various initial surface oxide films on microstructural and mechanical properties of friction stir welded (FSW) joints have been studied in the present paper. Anodizing was adopted to produce oxidation on AA2219-T62 surface. A series of friction stir welded joints were produced with various initial surface oxidations to study the effects on microstructural and mechanical properties of the joints. X-ray radiography inspection was conducted to determine the existence of welding defects. Optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to characterize stir zone features and microstructure. Tensile test was employed to obtain FSW joint mechanical properties. Results show that initial surface oxide film has pronounced effect on the joint line remnant (JLR) distribution, microcosmic appearance and mechanical properties. Further analysis of the JLR particles suggests that the dispersed particles are Al₂O₃ oxide with the characteristics of polycrystalline structure because of the effect of the thermo-mechanical cycles. In addition, tensile strength of FSW joints with JLR inside the stir zone only reached about 60% of a sound FSW joint. Fractography analysis of broken tensile specimens exposed a series of severe “scalloping” correlated with JLR flaw, while sound weld exhibits fine dimples on the fracture surface.     

Effect of post-weld natural aging on mechanical and microstructural properties of friction stir welded 6063-T4 aluminium alloy

Influence of natural aging on mechanical and microstructural properties of friction stir welded 6063-T4 aluminium alloy plates was investigated through mechanical testing, X-ray diffraction studies, and transmission electron microscopy, for aging times up to 8640 h. Mg–Si co-clusters formed during the natural aging process resulted in an increase in strength, decrease in ductility, and occurrence of serrated plastic flow. Hardness increase from aging was fastest in welds obtained at higher tool rotational speeds due to greater amount of “quenched-in” vacancies from higher peak stir zone temperatures. Peak broadening analyses and classical Williamson–Hall plots were used to investigate the effect of friction stir welding and post weld natural aging on microstrain in different weld regions. Higher microstrain was found in stir zone as well as heat affected zone as compared to that for base metal, albeit for different reasons.     

Influence of boron on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-11.6Si-0.4Mg casting alloy modified with strontium

Abstract

The influence of the addition of Al-1B master alloy on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-11.6%Si-0.4%Mg alloy modified with 0.030%Sr has been investigated. The mechanical properties and fracture behaviour of the alloys as cast and after T6 heat treatment with three different melt treatments (no treatment; 0.030%Sr modifying treatment; and 0.030%Sr + 0.028%B combined melt treatment) were also compared. Al-1B master alloy has a strong action in refining the dendritic structure in near eutectic Al-Si casting alloys modified with Sr. The Sr+B combined melt treatment can improve considerably the mechanical properties of the alloys, both as cast and after T6 heat treatment. Fracture modes of the alloys with the Sr modifying treatment and the Sr+B combined melt treatment are typically ductile. However, fractographs indicate that the alloy with combined melt treatment suffered greater ductile deformation before fracture. The Sr+B combined melt treatment significantly improves the mechanical properties of near eutectic Al-Si casting alloys.     

Effects of peening on mechanical properties in friction stir welded 2195 aluminum alloy joints

The effects of surface treatment techniques like laser and shot peening on the mechanical properties were investigated for friction stir welded 2195 aluminum alloy joints. The loading in the tensile specimens was applied in a direction perpendicular to the weld direction. The peening effects on the local mechanical properties through the different regions of the weld were characterized using a digital image correlation technique assuming an iso-stress condition. This assumption implies that the stress is uniform over the cross-section and is equal to the average stress. The surface strain and average stress were used giving an average stress–strain curve over the region of interest. The extension of the iso-stress assumption to calculate local stress–strain curves in surface treated regions is a novel approach and will help to understand and improve the local behavior at various regions across the weld resulting in a sound welding process. The surface and through-thickness residual stresses were also assessed using the X-ray diffraction and the contour methods. The laser peened samples displayed approximately 60% increase in the yield strength of the material. In contrast, shot peening exhibited only modest improvement to the tensile properties when compared to the unpeened FSW specimens. The result that laser peening is superior to shot peening because of the depth of penetration is original since this superiority has not been presented before regarding mechanical properties performance.     

Effects of heat treatment processes on microstructure and properties of 2·25Cr–1Mo–0·25V HSLA steels

Abstract

In the present paper, the effects of the heat treatment processes with two conditioning treatments and four quenching–tempering processes on the mechanical properties of 2·25Cr–1Mo–0·25V high strength low alloyed (HSLA) steel are investigated. The results show that the conditioning treatments have obvious effects on the low temperature impact energy but little effect on the tensile strength. The elevation of the final austenitising temperature increases the strength, whereas it results in the decrease in the low temperature impact energy due to the coarse microstructure. The results of the fracture surfaces analysis further make sure that the fracture surfaces of tensile specimens all exhibit ductile characters with a lot of dimples. However, the fracture surfaces of impact specimens exhibit two typical fracture characters, i.e. the ductile and brittle fracture surface corresponding to the fine and coarse microstructures respectively. In addition, the elongation and reduction in area seem to be insensitive to the heat treatments. Meanwhile, the impact fracture mode is more sensitive to the grain size and not to the low temperature impact energy.     

Effect of local volume fraction of microporosity on tensile properties in Al–Si–Mg cast alloy

Abstract

Porosity in Al–Si–Mg cast alloys utilised in automotive parts affects directly products quality, i.e. mechanical properties. In this study, the effect of micropores on mechanical properties has been investigated by X-ray tomography from the viewpoint of clustering micropores. The local volume fraction (LVF) of porosity was introduced to analyse the effect of clustering micropores. The statistical Weibull method was also used in order to explain strength of the alloy tested. The fracture strain decreased drastically from 17 to 3% on an inverse parabolic relationship with increasing porosity. In the case of the specimens that contain the largest pore higher than 100 m m, the ultimate tensile strength decreases monotonically. It is found that the fracture surface passes through high LVF regions. The fracture strain obviously depends on the ratio of LVF higher than 10%. It is confirmed that the LVF, which represents unevenly distribution of micropores cluster, is one of important dominant factor for managing the mechanical properties in the Al–Si–Mg cast alloy.     

Mechanical behaviour of Zr doped Ni3Al alloy: effects of heat treatment,environment, and temperature

Abstract

The mechanical behaviour of polycrystalline Ni₇₆Al₂₃Zr alloy was studied as a function of heat treatment, environment, and temperature. It was found that the tensile ductility was very sensitive to temperature, the alloy showing low ductility at temperatures from 700 to 1000°C both in air and vacuum. Environmental embrittlement could be alleviated for those specimens with elongated grains. The ductile transgranular fracture was explained by stress concentration at the intersection of slip bands and grain boundaries. It was also found that an oxide layer, formed during tensile testing at elevated temperature, affected the environmental embrittlement of Ni₃Al(Zr) alloy. An adherent Al rich oxide film was effective in protecting the underlying alloy from oxygen penetration.